Notes on Alignment

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As Project Lead for Maryland’s statewide Safe Sleep Act and HALO MD initiative, I oversaw a comprehensive compliance review across 32 birthing hospitals, assessing adherence to safe infant sleep policies and grief support services. Recognizing major gaps in continuity of care for bereaved families, I designed and implemented the HALO MD statewide support model, featuring monthly virtual groups, jurisdiction-specific resource guides, and coordinated hospital-provider referral pathways. This work not only standardized bereavement follow-up care statewide but also established an enduring framework for trauma-informed care and family-centered support within Maryland’s maternal health programs.

In response to the opioid epidemic’s devastating human toll, I led the design and implementation of the Roberta’s House Opioid Restitution Fund (ORF) Initiative, establishing Maryland’s first grief support services model that is informed by the needs of families affected by opioid-related deaths. 

Under my direction, we integrated harm-reduction principles, trauma-informed care, and collaborated with local health departments and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) to enhance our approach. 

To strengthen evidence-based practice, I initiated a research partnership with Johns Hopkins University to examine correlations between grief, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) engagement, and long-term health outcomes. This project not only expanded access to bereavement support but also contributed to policy discussions on the intersection of grief, recovery, and maternal health programs.

As Co-Lead for the RICH 2.0 Collaborative in West Baltimore, I worked to integrate grief support services and psychosocial support into cardiovascular health and mental health outreach across seven city ZIP codes disproportionately impacted by chronic stress, violence, and loss. This cross-sector collaboration united nursing, behavioral health, and community-based organizations, creating seamless warm handoffs for residents who screened positive for grief or depressive symptoms. Our model demonstrated how heart health and grief health intersect, expanding Maryland’s understanding of social determinants and advancing trauma-informed care within public health systems, including maternal health programs.

As an independent contractor, I provided document and data management services for the Black-owned social impact consulting firm that specializes in grief support services, maternal health programs, and trauma-informed care.

In 2022, I assisted CCB in fulfilling its 6-month contract with the Annie E. Casey Foundation by providing administrative support to the Foundation's Baltimore Civic Site, managing the Foundation's ongoing grantee relationships, and facilitating the work of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. My responsibilities included administering grants related to maternal health programs, developing new grants and partnerships, and participating in internal workgroups focused on trauma-informed care. Additionally, I engaged in on-boarding, prep, and wrap-up meetings, while representing the Foundation at strategic thinking table conversations with external Baltimore City partners, also discussing the integration of grief support services.

I served as an Independent Support Consultant on a 6-month project initiating the design and implementation of the B’More Invested Grantee Capacity Support strategy. Using a multi-tiered, collaborative approach, the B’More Invested Grantee Capacity Support strategy provided local, BIPOC-owned, grassroots non-profits access to capacity support services, including grief support services and maternal health programs, that facilitate both organizational growth and long-term agency sustainability through trauma-informed care.

Since 2020, I have managed Maryland’s ACE Interface Train the Trainer program, a statewide public education initiative that employs over 250 active master trainers and presenters to deliver the ACEs Interface education curriculum. This program reaches more than 5,000 Maryland citizens each year, raising public awareness of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and building community resilience against the long-term effects of childhood trauma. Additionally, it complements various grief support services and maternal health programs by promoting trauma-informed care within the community.

In 2020, I hosted a training series for the statewide child advocacy group that discussed the science of epigenetics, the intergenerational transmission of ACEs, and the damaging effects of adverse childhood experiences on both childrearing practices and child health outcomes. This training not only educated participants on the various effects of early adversity on healthy child development but was also designed to provide the organization's newly inaugurated board members with context into the disturbing cases of child maltreatment often seen during CRBC's child review process. Additionally, the presentation emphasized the necessity of trauma-informed care and ensuring that intervention services, such as education IEPs, maternal health programs, and grief support services, are provided to children in Maryland's out-of-home care system.

As The Family Tree's Community Engagement Services Director, I oversaw the public provision of professional training, outreach, grief support services, and resource & referral services to over 15,000 parents, caregivers, and human service professionals a year by: Effectively leading a team of 5 full-time employees. Co-directing state-level policy efforts to support the prioritization of trauma-informed care and trauma-responsive delivery of Maryland state services that affect children, youth, families, and older adults. Cultivating numerous collaborative relationships with multidisciplinary partners in Maryland’s government, social work, mental health, education, law enforcement, public health, and legal sectors. Drafting legislative testimony advocating for the passage of Maryland state laws designed to create, facilitate, and maintain safe & supportive homes, children, families, and communities, including initiatives for maternal health programs.